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-   -   Tswifty8's 220g Upgrade! (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1466247)

Tswifty 09/06/2008 07:13 PM

Tswifty8's 220g Upgrade!
 
Ok... Figured I might as well start this up now. :lol:

Here's the story:

About 6 months ago I started up my 90g reef. Things have been going great thus far. Here's a picture:

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...ifty8/FTS1.jpg

Here's the original thread link:

Starting 90g Reef Tank Build... Finally!!!

Anyway, the other day I saw an add on Craigslist listing an undrilled 220g tank and stand for $600.

So I went after work "just to look" then came back to my house, and convinced myself that it wasn't for me. Eventually I talked myself into at least throwing in an offer. So I threw in a low ball offer of $300.00 (just so he would turn it down, and I could say "well I tried"). To my surprise the guy happened to be leaving for college in a few days, needed to get rid of the tank, and accepted my offer... I couldn't believe it!!!

So now I am the proud owner of a 220g (72" x 24" x 30") tank & stand:

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...ifty8/2201.jpg

Like I said, I was perfectly happy with my 90g tank, and wasn't planning on this upgrade. So you'll have to have some patience with me, as this build will probably move much slower than my last one.

Right now the tentative date for getting water in this bad boy is March 2009. (We'll see if that date gets bumped up though ;)).

Tswifty 09/06/2008 07:13 PM

I just couldn't resist :lol:

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l.../swifty220.jpg

Filled up for a leak test:

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...y8/220test.jpg

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...220testtop.jpg

Leak test was a success :D

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...ty8/drain1.jpg

Tswifty 09/06/2008 07:14 PM

I'm basically in the planning stage right now, and trying to decide on an overflow setup and if I'm going to incorporate a closed loop setup or not.

The dates I have set thus far are:

September/October - - Overflow & Closed Loop Construction

October/November - - New Stand & Canopy Build

Here are some of the plumbing layouts I have been considering:

1. Just your normal plumbing layout with extra emergency drains, trying to consolidate space a little more than a pre-manufactured Reef Ready tank.

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...ntitled1-3.jpg

2. Bean's Method... Using an external overflow, but this would require having the back panel routed down a little by a glass shop. I'm not sure what this would do to the structural integrity of the tank though.

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...lumbing220.jpg

Tswifty 09/06/2008 07:29 PM

I'll be working off this template for the stand construction:

DIY Stands Template and Calculator

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...d_Template.jpg

Tswifty 09/06/2008 07:33 PM

Here's the area where the tank will be located (90" long):

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...fty8/room2.jpg

The garage is on the other side of the wall, where the filtration and equipment will be housed:

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...y8/room1-1.jpg

Schwe 09/06/2008 07:35 PM

You know you can't wait 'til March.

Yer gonna SO pop everything on a 0% credit card and then "pretend" you bought it little by little and pay it off as though you were. :lol:

DustinLH00 09/06/2008 07:40 PM

Best of luck Tswifty! I can't believe you will have 2 amazingly active build threads at once, LOL.

TankBusters 09/06/2008 07:47 PM

I just built that same DIY stand with 2x6's. It came out great but I am just not happy about toe nailing the purple boards.

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j2...usters/030.jpg

OwNeD162 09/06/2008 08:53 PM

Nice work on starting the new thread TJ :D
Are you allowed to go through the walls cause your renting?

martinphillip03 09/06/2008 09:33 PM

Signed up

Marty

kudora 09/06/2008 10:03 PM

sweet my first post on the new thread :)

Aquarist007 09/06/2008 10:22 PM

good going TJ--this thread will be as popular as the other one but its nice to separate the two tanks.

timschmidt 09/06/2008 10:34 PM

yeppers *sips on drink* I bet he is measuring stuff now...

itZme 09/06/2008 10:51 PM

T.J. are you going to build a small fish room and isulate it inside the garage? If not what are your plans for when it is 15 below zero and the garage is down to like 10 degrees? You will either need a few 1,000 watt heaters or have to heat your entire garage. I could see making a small enclosure that is vented to the inside and well insulated so it will be maybe 10 degrees cooler than the house but MUCH warmer than the garage.

Just a little early concern for your new, bigger, better build thread :)

If you ever need any help let me know. I can swing out there sometime and help plumb or drill the tank or even build a few walls with ya :D

itZme 09/06/2008 11:01 PM

I was also thinking this might be a better method of plumbing since you will already have to move the tank from the wall for the rear external overflow. Without the plumbing sticking out the back you can get it about 3-4 inches closer.

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/6...bing220hd4.jpg

Tswifty 09/06/2008 11:20 PM

Quote:

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13303874#post13303874 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Schwe
You know you can't wait 'til March.

Yer gonna SO pop everything on a 0% credit card and then "pretend" you bought it little by little and pay it off as though you were. :lol:

The stand build I think is going to take a long time. I'm confident I can build the frame no problem, but purdying it up is gonna take some time. So far I've been good and haven't used the plastic for any of my fishtank purchases. Don't give me any ideas though. :lol:

Tswifty 09/06/2008 11:21 PM

Quote:

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13303888#post13303888 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DustinLH00
Best of luck Tswifty! I can't believe you will have 2 amazingly active build threads at once, LOL.
Thanks :)

Tswifty 09/06/2008 11:28 PM

Quote:

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13304330#post13304330 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by OwNeD162
Nice work on starting the new thread TJ :D
Are you allowed to go through the walls cause your renting?

Thanks.

I'm not worried about putting a few smalls holes in the wall. I've already had to patch the walls a few times from other incidents. My landlord is pretty cool about that stuff. As long as the place looks like it did when you moved in, when you move out. He doesn't care. :)

That being said... I don't plan on picking up a sledghammer or anything like that :lol:

Tswifty 09/06/2008 11:29 PM

Quote:

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13304509#post13304509 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by martinphillip03
Signed up

Marty

Quote:

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13304664#post13304664 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kudora
sweet my first post on the new thread :)
Quote:

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13304752#post13304752 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capn_hylinur
good going TJ--this thread will be as popular as the other one but its nice to separate the two tanks.
:thumbsup:

Tswifty 09/06/2008 11:33 PM

Quote:

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13304798#post13304798 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by timschmidt
yeppers *sips on drink* I bet he is measuring stuff now...
:lol:

Trying to put on paper what I'm visualizing for the equipment layout.

I'm going to make an "L" shaped table with two levels for the garage, and would like to use two 75 gallon tanks for the sump & refugium. Also I would like to incorporate a manifold on this tank to run all the little stuff, rather than using all individual pumps.

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...gelayout1a.jpg

Tswifty 09/06/2008 11:54 PM

Quote:

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13304867#post13304867 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by itZme
T.J. are you going to build a small fish room and isulate it inside the garage? If not what are your plans for when it is 15 below zero and the garage is down to like 10 degrees? You will either need a few 1,000 watt heaters or have to heat your entire garage. I could see making a small enclosure that is vented to the inside and well insulated so it will be maybe 10 degrees cooler than the house but MUCH warmer than the garage.

Just a little early concern for your new, bigger, better build thread :)

If you ever need any help let me know. I can swing out there sometime and help plumb or drill the tank or even build a few walls with ya :D

Any concern/advice/ideas are always welcomed. :)

I know I'm going to need a lot of help planning a system of this size.

I just ran out and did a rough measurement. The garage is only like 10-1/2' wide by 20' long, and a car has to fit in there. I'm trying to stick the equipment on an "L" shaped table that will be situated in the corner of the garage. Building some type of an enclosure sounds like it's going to be a must... creating one that takes up minimal room, while allowing access to all the equipment is another story.

Maybe I could make the table enclosed like a stand?

Tswifty 09/06/2008 11:57 PM

Quote:

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13304906#post13304906 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by itZme
I was also thinking this might be a better method of plumbing since you will already have to move the tank from the wall for the rear external overflow. Without the plumbing sticking out the back you can get it about 3-4 inches closer.

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/6...bing220hd4.jpg

Yeah that makes more sense. Do you have any thoughts about getting the glass routed? Do you think this will mess with the integrity of the tank?

The tank isn't eurobraced or anything, and if I get the back pane routed, I imagine they would have to cut through plastic frame on the rear.

timschmidt 09/07/2008 12:36 AM

Quote:

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13305050#post13305050 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tswifty8
:lol:

Trying to put on paper what I'm visualizing for the equipment layout.

I'm going to make an "L" shaped table with two levels for the garage, and would like to use two 75 gallon tanks for the sump & refugium. Also I would like to incorporate a manifold on this tank to run all the little stuff, rather than using all individual pumps.

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/l...gelayout1a.jpg

Can you label the parts on the lower level? I see the skimmer and two pumps (I think)

Michael 09/07/2008 01:02 AM

well done T.J. good idea about sticking all the kit in the garage, nice tank as well, your going to need a bit more rock:lol:

OwNeD162 09/07/2008 01:42 AM

Quote:

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13305037#post13305037 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tswifty8
Thanks.

I'm not worried about putting a few smalls holes in the wall. I've already had to patch the walls a few times from other incidents. My landlord is pretty cool about that stuff. As long as the place looks like it did when you moved in, when you move out. He doesn't care. :)

That being said... I don't plan on picking up a sledghammer or anything like that :lol:

Awesome :D

The L Shaped table sounds like a good idea.
Enclosing it like a regular stand also sounds like a good idea, and if you used some form of roof insulation on the inside that would definitely stop temperature fluctuations. And if you then just had a fan blowing out air it would ensure nothing cooked. As for the top part, I have no idea how you would successfully enclose the fuge and lights and still make it functional... Have to see if anyone else comes up with something... :lol:


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